Melbourne... a month later...

Well it's well into the new year now...
I've kinda been either busy or lazy so havent posted for a while.

So... what's been happening...

Well in January I went to Melbourne for a week. This is my week:

Sat 13th Jan: Flew down on a saturday morning, dropped bags and checked into the hotel and then went straight to Kooyong for the final of the AAMI classic.
My favourite player has been Andy Roddick for a while and so it was good to be able to see him play Roger Federer in the final.
Erica (my friend whom i went to melb with) likes Safin and we were both treated cos we got to see the play-off for 3rd and 4th between Andy Murray of England and Marat Safin.
Was a great day cos Andy beat Roger in 3 exciting sets.

Sunday we went to Victoria markets where i bought heaps of earrings!! Walked around melbourne city and Docklands for a bit and then went to dinner at the Sofitel.

The restaurant at the Sofitel is on the 35th floor and boasts a really nice view over the Yarra and tennis centre, MCG etc... Also nice that I get 50% off there so i ordered the seafood platter... mmmmmm!!


Monday - at the tennis. Took heaps of photos... First match was Mauresmo and then Roger played. Since i'd seen them before, i wasnt really that fussed and didnt really stay in centre court. Went to go cheer on Ai Sugiyama who is a Japanese player i know from when i worked at the tennis... she's prob the only player that remembers me from my days at the tennis. Sat with a bunch of Japanese ppl and i think i might have been one of only a few that called out encouragement while she was playing... the Japanese ppl just sit there politely and watch. On the other hand, the swedish supports (her opponent was swedish) were very vocal!

Went round the centre collecting various freebies... It was nice to have an American express card cos u get a free radio and also free frappes in the AMEX marquee. It would come in handy the next day when i kept going back every hour for a free drink cos it was 40 degrees.

Mon night we went to Lygon st for pasta!! yummmm. there's also this lolly shop that has all kinds of unusual lollies... yummmm.

Tue went to the tennis again. Funny story... a girl was walking up some stairs and suddenly one of her thongs came off. The stairs are badly designed and she unluckily flung her thong between the stairs to the area below... which nobody could seem to get to. At around the same time... i happened to drop my program between the stairs too! So... off to ask somebody in security to help. But i was chatting to the event staff person who helped us and mentioned i used to work at the tennis in sydney... she was really nice... and i dont know how i got the info but she ended up telling me where all the important players would be that day... like when they had booked practise courts and which court they would be on at what time. Handy info to know... took heaps more photos.


Wed... no tennis... had lunch at Fifteen, which is Jamie Oliver's restaurant - the one that has been on TV... What can i say... big plate, little food. Think I paid $40 for an entree and dessert. The service was great and the staff were so polite and even offered to take photos for us.
Trev calls Fifteen "the zoo" because "you're only going there to eat so you can see the 'freaks' (his words) that work there". I think i can say i've been there but i prob wouldnt go back.



Caught up with Cath Wan at night... it's been yonks since i've seen her... had tapas and then went out for coffee. Great to catch up!

Thursday... sleep in day... no tennis today either... but lots of shopping. It's amazing how Melbourne weather changes... on tuesday it was like 40 degrees, wed 20 degrees - freezing cold and rainy. Thursday was rainy in patches. Went down to Bridge St. which is where the factory outlets are... bought lots but mainly presents for upcoming b'days and things like that.

Friday.. went shopping again... hey melb is good for shopping... this time chapel st. It's factory outlets again but more upmarket clothing brands. Not as many bargains. At night went to the tennis. I've been a bit disappointed at not seeing Andy at all at the Aust open... he played on the Vodafone arena on the first day and we only had tix to the Rod Laver Arena. So... was great that the match we got to see at night was... Roddick vs Safin... My favourite vs Erica's favourite... was gonna be interesting... although now i think she's an andy fan... a convert!! And andy won!! GO ANDY!

Sat 20th Jan... slept in and then wandered around melb city for a bit. More shopping in the city before going to the airport and flying home...

James Blake


Roger Federer


Rafa Nadal